Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Nucleation of CdTe thin films deposited by close-space sublimation under a nitrogen ambient
AU - Major, J.D.
AU - Proskuryakov, Y.Y.
AU - Durose, K.
AU - Green, S.
N1 - <ce:title>Proceedings of Sympodium O on Thin Film Chalcogenide Photovoltaic Materials, EMRS 2006 Conference</ce:title> <ce:subtitle>EMRS 2006 Symposium O</ce:subtitle>
PY - 2007/5/31
Y1 - 2007/5/31
N2 - The early stages of the close-space sublimation growth of CdTe/ITO (indium tin oxide) at 500°C under 26.7 kPa (200 Torr) of N2 were investigated, the relatively high pressure being used to slow the growth. Film development was monitored over 60 mins by ex-situ AFM (atomic force microscopy), the growth being controlled by a shutter. The films formed by the ‘island’ or Volmer–Weber growth mechanism. Developments in the areal island growth rate, the island density and spatial distribution type were explained using growth mechanisms. Significant changes in these phenomena at t ≥ 10 mins were attributed to a change in growth mechanism from surface migration limited, to a regime in which island coalescence and direct impingement of vapour species on the islands became important. Since the islands are characterised by distinct crystalline facets, this indicates the growth mechanism to be uninterrupted step-flow like addition of material to each island. Arguments are given to relate the final grain size in the films to the density of nuclei that are stable to re-evaporation after t = 10 mins.
AB - The early stages of the close-space sublimation growth of CdTe/ITO (indium tin oxide) at 500°C under 26.7 kPa (200 Torr) of N2 were investigated, the relatively high pressure being used to slow the growth. Film development was monitored over 60 mins by ex-situ AFM (atomic force microscopy), the growth being controlled by a shutter. The films formed by the ‘island’ or Volmer–Weber growth mechanism. Developments in the areal island growth rate, the island density and spatial distribution type were explained using growth mechanisms. Significant changes in these phenomena at t ≥ 10 mins were attributed to a change in growth mechanism from surface migration limited, to a regime in which island coalescence and direct impingement of vapour species on the islands became important. Since the islands are characterised by distinct crystalline facets, this indicates the growth mechanism to be uninterrupted step-flow like addition of material to each island. Arguments are given to relate the final grain size in the films to the density of nuclei that are stable to re-evaporation after t = 10 mins.
KW - CdTe
KW - Thin film
KW - Nucleation
KW - Solar
U2 - 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.169
DO - 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.169
M3 - Journal article
VL - 515
SP - 5828
EP - 5832
JO - Thin Solid Films
JF - Thin Solid Films
SN - 0040-6090
IS - 15
ER -